Common News

Every year is filled with news, whether good or bad. 2015 is no different from any other year, with an assortment of politically and socially charged events occurring. That’s the nature of the beast called life. The same goes with music, too. There have been numerous notable moments and occurrences, so many that it would be impossible to recap them all. So we won’t try – we’ll choose 32 of the most notable music moments of 2015 so far, and hope we didn’t miss too many important ones along the way!

Ah, the time has come to examine the best songs of 2015. In an age where records dominate as opposed to the albums themselves, there is always an abundance of terrific songs to choose from. But when it’s all said and done, one or more of those terrific songs is always going to get left off, no matter how long the list is, so if your favorite isn’t here, that might be the reason why. So here goes nothing – 25 of the best songs of 2015… so far! And by the way, if a song appears from 2014, it is because it blew up in 2015 or its parent album is from 2015.

New set photos from "Suicide Squad" have just hit the internet, and they make Jared Leto's Joker look even more terrifying than ever. In the photos, Leto's looking right into the camera- his smoldering stare, plus the eyeshadow, gold teeth, pale skin and menacing tattoos makes this Joker look positively revolting.

Leto was spotted wearing a heavy black cloak- clearly, the "Dallas Buyer's Club" Oscar winner was trying to hide his costume. But given the white collared shirt and purple bow tie, it looks like he's wearing a very comic-appropriate purple suit. Just like the Joker should.

Hip-hop star Common has a new gig - television host. The singer, actor and author is hosting "Framework" on Spike TV. The series will center on furniture designers as they compete for $100,000 and the opportunity to launch their pieces nationally.

According to Spike, "The builders will use unconventional materials, rethink classic furniture pieces, and incorporate a variety of techniques and disciplines to demonstrate their mastery of furniture creation."

A panel of judges led by Common will eliminate one contest in each episode over the course of 10 weeks. Furniture experts Nolen Niu and...

Cutting straight to the chase, Common, one of the Midwest’s preeminent MCs, delivers his best album in years with Nobody’s Smiling. Standing only 10 tracks deep (13 on the deluxe version), Common has delivered nothing short of a moody, meaningful tour de force that should get every rapper on his toes. Featuring exceptional production from NO I.D. and a couple of solid collaborations, Nobody’s Smiling has the goods to erase frowns of which it references.

July continues to be something of a slow month for new album releases. While there have been some solid, arguably even notable releases, no ‘blockbuster’ albums have been released. This week, the likely standout for younger listeners will be 5 Seconds of Summer, who release their full-length debut album. For rap lovers, they need look no further than the Midwest’s don, Common, who extends his lengthy career. Here’s 5 albums to check out this week.

1) 5 Seconds of Summer, 5 Seconds of Summer (Capitol)

After releasing EP She Looks So Perfect to an exceptional #2 bow, Australian punk/...

Funk pioneer Chuck Brown, 75, died yesterday after a long battle with pneumonia. The singer, nicknamed the Godfather of Go-Go, died at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, where he had been receiving treatment for the last month.

Brown helped define the go-go genre by fusing funk, soul and Latin sounds. His hit "Bustin' Loose," with his group the Soul Searchers, spent several weeks at the top of the R&B charts in 1979 and was later sampled in rapper Nelly's Grammy-winning track "Hot in Herre."

A documentary on the Washington, D.C., go-go scene appeared in 2002 and prominently featured...

In 1972 the Watergate scandal hit the national scene, "The Godfather" ruled the movie box office and songs that dominated the radio airwaves included Don McLean's "American Pie," Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," and "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers.

Also that year many of today's prominent stars were born that starred in films such as "Stand by Me," "Good Will Hunting," "There's Something about Mary," and many more. See what stars turn the big 40 in 2012. Check out the slide show below.

Kanye West, Adele, Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars will be the ones to watch at the 54th annual Grammy Awards after each landing a slew of top nominations.

The Stronger rapper leads the way with seven nods - his star-studded collaboration All of the Lights is up for Song of the Year and Best Rap Song, while he also earns a nod in the latter category for his Jay-Z duet Otis. The hip-hop stars' Watch The Throne album will also go head-to-head with West's solo disc, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy for Best Rap Album.

Adele is in the running for six honors and her critically-acclaimed project...

Rapper Common is still pinching himself after celebrated writer Maya Angelou agreed to write a special poem for his upcoming album.

The hip-hop star befriended Pulitzer Prize nominee Angelou at a fundraiser he was organising after she stepped in as a guest speaker at the last minute - and he decided to turn to the veteran poet/author once again when he was putting together his new project, The Dreamer, The Believer.

He tells TheBoombox.com, "It's incredible! I met Maya Angelou, it was (at) a benefit I was doing for this foundation... this poet that was supposed to do it (fundraiser) he di...

Legendary jazz and soul musician Gil Scott-Heron has died at the age of 62.

The iconic artist, poet and activist passed away in New York on Friday afternoon after falling sick following a trip to Europe.

Born in Chicago, Illinois to Jamaican soccer player Gilbert Heron and singer Bobbie Scott, the star spent his early years in Jackson, Tennessee before moving to the Big Apple with his mother following his parents' divorce.

He began his recording career in 1970 with his debut album Small Talk at 125th and Lenox, a disc containing songs about social and political topics of the time, includ...

A spokesman for the White House has defended First Lady Michelle Obama's decision to invite Common to participate in a poetry event after the rapper was criticized for his controversial lyrics.

The hitmaker is among the guests invited to attend the Celebration of American Poetry bash at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, but his addition to the line-up has sparked criticism over two of his earlier works, which appear to advocate violence.

Detractors have pinpointed lyrics from a 2007 rhyme about former Republican president George W. Bush and the War on Iraq. On the track, C...

Tween girls aren't the typical target audience for the NBA, but expect them to tune in for the league's All-Star Celebrity Game when Justin Bieber suits up in the annual event. As part of the NBA's All-Star Weekend (Feb. 17-20) a diverse mix of personalities will hit the court at the Los Angeles Convention Center. In addition to the pint-sized pop phenom, other celebs scheduled to participate include ...

Rapper/actor Common is making the transition from movie theatres to the small screen - he's landed his first leading role in a new TV series.

The Go! Hit-maker, real name Lonnie Lynn, Jr., recently starred as Queen Latifah's leading man in romantic comedy Just Wright, the first film which saw him take top billing alongside his fellow hip-hop star-turned-actress.

However, Common is now set to go back in time to play Elam, a freed slave, in contemporary western Hell on Wheels on the AMC network, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Tennis champ Serena Williams has broken her silence about her romance with Common, blaming the rapper/actor for the break-up of their relationship.

The couple was rumored to have ended its two-year relationship in April and the hip-hop star recently confirmed he was no longer dating Williams by insisting he was "definitely single." The sporting ace has been quiet about the break-up since the news surfaced but she has opened up about the failed romance in a new interview with Harper's Bazaar magazine.

Williams admits their busy careers often got in the way of spending time together, but ...

She explains, "I'm super-curvy. I have big boobs and this massive butt. (Venus is) tall and she's like a model and she fits everything.

"I was growing up, wanting to be her, wanting to look like her, and I was always fitting in her clothes, but then one day I couldn't. I was 23 when I realized that I wasn't Venus. She's totally different."

Earlier this month rapper/actor Common put an end to speculation about his relationship with Williams, declaring himself "definitely" single.

Rapper/actor Common has put an end to speculation about his relationship with tennis ace Serena Williams, declaring himself "definitely" single.

The hip-hop star was rumored to have split from Williams last month, but he recently dismissed the claims and insisted he had plans to visit his girlfriend of two years in Paris, where she was competing in the French Open Championships.

"Iron Man 2" has fought off all competition at the box office for a second weekend, boasting new earnings of $53 million.

The sequel to the 2008 hit, starring Robert Downey, Jr. as the comic book superhero, was number one at movie theatres across America at the weekend, sending its week-long total soaring to nearly $212.2 million.

Ridley Scott's epic "Robin Hood," starring Russell Crowe as the legendary British outlaw and Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian, settled for second place with $37.1 million on its debut weekend.

After kicking butt in "Tomb Raider" and taking names in "Wanted," Angelina Jolie has shown that she can play the action game just as well as Hollywood's A-list big boys. But with her latest thriller, "Salt," she may prove that she can replace them, too.

Back in the summer of 2008, Salt was a script about a CIA agent who's accused of being a Russian sleeper spy- a male Russian sleeper spy. At the time, Tom Cruise was attached to play lead. But as the script evolved into more of an on-the-run espionage thriller, Cruise began to feel that the character was a little too close to his "Mission I...

Tennis ace Serena Williams has turned her hand to beauty - she's training to qualify as a nail technician. Williams, who is dating rapper/actor Common, enjoys pampering herself so much she is determined to be the best nail student at the Florida school she has signed up to.

Taking to her Global Grind blog, Williams writes, "No one likes getting their nails done more than I do. As a matter of fact I go every four days to get a manicure and every seven days for a pedicure. So, I had a brilliant idea to get certified to be a nail tech."

Gold and beige were hot colors at last night's Grammy Awards. Beyonce looked fantastic in a form-fitting Stephanie Rolland gown, while Katy Perry wore the same shade in a dress by Zac Posen, complete with gold flowers. Sexy "Tik Tok" pop star Ke$ha wore a flirty gold fringed dress. Carrie Underwood took the stage in a strapless gold gown but wore a white dress with an asymmetrical neckline on the red carpet.

Fergie stood out in her electric blue and gold dress, which had a hint of Egyptian flare. Taylor Swift was one of our top picks of the night in a blue sparkly floor-length Kaufman F...

Will Ferrell and Brooke Shields talk on the sidelines during an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics, Sunday, Nov. 22, in New York. Check out what other celebs did this weekend.

Hailed in the press as one of the most fun, innovative and highly-anticipated games of the year, Activision Publishing Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) recently dropped the needle on DJ Hero's full set list featuring 93 exclusive mixes from the biggest stars in hip hop, R&B, rock, pop and dance and created by some of the greatest DJs of all time.

On October 27th, living room legends and budding superstar DJs alike will start the party off right with an unprecedented array of talent DJs including DJ A.M., Cut Chemist, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Jazzy Jeff, J. Period, DJ Shadow and DJ Z-Trip spinning trac...

We had a chance this week to chat with Colbie Caillat, whose sophmore album, "Breakthrough", is finally here and set for release on Tuesday, August 25th. Colbie was launched to stardom after being discovered on Myspace and releasing her first hit single, "Bubby", and it's been nothing but up from there.

Starpulse: In listening to clips from your latest album, it has the same breezy relaxed feel as Coco. How does this album differ from your first?

Colbie Caillat: I agree, it definitely has the same kind of style because that's the kind of music I like to listen to and write. I wr...